Entrepreneurship Blog

An attempt to demystify the process of raising capital, democratize information and help entrepreneurs improve their businesses by avoiding the mistakes that I've already made... and occasionally include a personal post because Rich told me to.

Thursday, March 13, 2008

Interview on the CBS/KPIX News

Earlier this month I was interviewed on the morning news at CBS/KPIX Channel 5 about the Installfest for Schools, which was a great success. We recycled 350 computers with Ubuntu that will be donated to Northern California schools. The interview took place the morning of the event on March 1st. I was a little bit nervous, but it was a lot of fun. One really strange thing about being in studio is how few people there were... all of the cameras are robotic and the place feels really empty and ridiculous... If you didn't know they were broadcasting live on T.V. you ask yourself "why are these two people sitting behind the desk talking to an empty room?" Its weird.

Sunday, March 09, 2008

Not a Republican, but Impressed by McCain

I was impressed with John McCain on 60 Minutes earlier this evening. I really like McCain's willingness to take an unpopular position on Iraq. I don't really know what to do about Iraq, but Hillary Clinton's "plan to bring our troops home starting with the first 60 days of her Administration," strikes me as populist policy making at it worst. Look, I didn't support going to war with Iraq and I don't like the human lives that have been lost or billions that have been wasted on the war. But we can't undo the war, so the question is what is the best course of action now? We have to balance the following requirements:

Responsibility for starting the war and at least some level of debt to the Iraqi people for the upheaval that war has caused them

Protecting American troop's lives

Keeping the Middle East stable enough not to collapse into a regional war

Preventing Iraq from becoming an terrorist state funded by oil revenue

Keeping oil flowing freely

Stopping the bleeding of military spending

Given how much of a mess Iraq is today, I really can't see how starting to pull troops out in March of 2009 is going to accomplish any more than 2 of these 6 objectives. I'm tired of Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama manufacturing positions based on what they think people want to hear rather than what they believe in. How does pulling troops out of Iraq help promote stability in the Middle East? How does a chaotic Iraq, potentially governed by Al Queda, reduce terrorism? Don't get me wrong, the war in Iraq has probably done more to increase anti-American terrorism than anything else in the last 50 years. But whats done is done. The questions is "how can we improve the situation from the position we are already in today."

Democracy is about giving the people what they want. But democratic leaders with integrity will find a way to communicate why they are making unpopular decisions and I don't see any signs of Obama or Hillary doing this.

I also like McCain's commitment to campaign finance reform. Ultimately, campaign finance reform is the single most important political issue. Campaign finance distorts the political process towards special interests like wealthy and/or organized groups like oil companies, defense contractors, unions and senior citizens. The United States loses when any special interest (including unions and senior citizens) distorts the political process.

Lastly, I like McCain's willingness to address the Republican party's terrible record on government spending under the Bush administration. This is another example of McCain's willingness to stand up for what he believes in despite potential political consequences.

Reasons against voting for McCain are:

I strongly dislike the Republican Party

Barack Obama's message is inspiring some people, which is a good thing even though I personally find it to be quite shallow

Electing Barack Obama would send a great message Internationally and domestically about how tolerant the United States really is and what kind of opportunity exists for all citizens

Electing a Democrat (i.e. regime change) would send a message about how the Bush Administration's actions are not acceptable